Sunday, November 15, 2015

Girgaum added to its new name Swaraj Bhoomi

For Shiv Sena, all’s in the name

Fearing old name will be lost forever, party wants Girgaum added to its new name Swaraj Bhoomi

We want Girgaum back in Girgaum Chowpatty. That’s what Shiv Sena is telling chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Expressing their fear that the name Girgaum would be forgotten for ever, the Shiv Sena has demanded that the name be added to the iconic sea front’s new name ‘Swaraj Bhoomi’.

The Fadnvais-led government had in March earlier this year, issued a resolution to rename Girgaum Chowpatty — Mumbai’s most famous beach as Swaraj Bhoomi. The decision was taken following a demand made by the Lokmanya Tilak Gaurav Samiti.

The Gaurav Samiti had demanded that the spot at the beach where Lokmanya Tilak was cremated, and where a garden stands now, be called Swaraj Bhoomi. However, the government took a giant step forward and renamed the entire Chowpatty as Swaraj Bhoomi.

“Girgaum Chowpatty is a historic venue since the pre-independence era. Tall leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee have addressed rallies here. Shiv Sena supremo late Balasaheb Thackeray, too, has given speeches from here. Late Shiv Sena leader Pramod Navalkar also took efforts to beautify the beach. The name of such a historic location should be immortalized,” local Shiv Sena corporator Surendra Bagalkar has said in a letter to Fadnavis.

Bagalkar claimed that several local residents had approached him demanding that Girgaum’s name be retained. BMC officials said that following the state government’s decision, they were setting up plaques at the site to inform people about the sea front’s new name ‘Swaraj Bhoomi’.

“The Gaurav Samiti had asked for renaming just the site where Lokmanya Tilak was cremated. However, the government decided to rename the entire precinct. We all respect Tilak but Girgaum should not be forgotten and can’t be wiped out. The name should be changed to Girgaum Chowpatty Swaraj Bhoomi,” he suggested.

While the term Chowpatty has become generic in Mumbai over the years, given that the Dadar and Juhu beaches are also addressed by the same name, it is actually a proper name for the sea front at Girgaum.